NIA to seize IM operative Tahseen Akhtar's property

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) is set to seize the property of alleged Indian Mujahideen (IM) operative Tahseen Akhtar alias Monu, accused of involvement in bomb blasts, after he failed to surrender within the stipulated deadline, police said Sunday.

Akhtar, considered the mastermind of several bomb blasts, including in Delhi, Mumbai, Patna and Bodh Gaya, is a resident of Maniyarpur village in Samastipur district.

"The NIA team is likely to reach Akhtar alias Monu's village to attach (seize) his property on Monday as he failed to surrender after a special court asked him to surrender till Nov 30 or else his property would be attached," a district police official said.

According to district police officials, area police station is ready to help the NIA team attach his property. "Area police officials have prepared details of his father Wasim Akhtar's assets in the village sought by the NIA to attach property," the police official said.

Akhtar, said to be running Indian Mujahideen operations after the arrest of Yaseen Bhatkal, is also wanted by the NIA for involvement in other blasts.

Last month, a cash award was announced for any information leading to the arrest of Akhtar wanted for planning and executing acts of terrorism, including the July 7 Bodh Gaya and the Oct 27 Patna blasts.

The NIA has announced a cash reward of Rs.10 lakh for any information leading to his arrest.

Ten bombs exploded at Bodh Gaya's Mahabodhi temple in which two Buddhist monks were injured. Three live bombs were later recovered and defused.

The Mahabodhi temple - a Unesco World Heritage site - is where the Buddha, born in neighbouring Nepal, attained enlightenment around 2,550 years ago.

At least seven people, including a suspected bomber, were killed and nearly 100 injured in the blasts ahead of the Oct 27 Patna rally by the Bharatiya Janata Party's prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi.

The NIA has arrested four people, including Mohammed Imtiyaz Ansari, in connection with the Patna serial blasts.